Week 2

It's hard to believe that it has been over 2 weeks since I got to Belize. Our days and evenings have been packed with work and fun, so it has been difficult to get back to blogging :(

Update on excavations: we have uncovered all outside walls of Structure 1 and will start working on the roof tomorrow! Jess and I have been working on profiling walls, which takes a lot more patience and long-suffering than I possess. That involves mapping in each and every stone in a given wall, no matter how long the wall, how small or large the stones, etc. But, we are getting through it. 

Update on weather: It was really nice weather up until last Friday, when it poured on us in the morning. And now it hasn't stopped, and now there has been long and intensive downpours which have drowned everything. This morning, at exactly 248am, I woke up to find my bedskirt soaked. I still don't know where it came from, but the cleaning ladies replaced the skirt today, so perhaps I will never know where the leak came from. We had to walk into the field today, which was a long and very muddy hike. The road has deep gullies in it from all the rain. We will have to continue to hike back, instead of driving straight to the site, until they fix the road again. In other and related news, the mosquitoes will soon be out in force. 

Day 3

The field work is going well, and we have located two of the walls of the shrine. The going is slow for me though, as I have not made any significant discoveries.  Yesterday, I was a bit sick after the field and went to bed early. I attributed it to stress, sleepiness and trying to eat too fast. I might have to pack my breakfast instead of cramming food in 15 min. 

We finished working in a looters trench today, and then made a quick trip to Belmopan for supplies. I purchased hand sanitizer and wipes, Doritos, tomatoes, chocolate milk, and dove soap. So, I am set until the next town trip ;) We have dinner in 20 minutes, so I will try to write more this weekend. Life is moving so fast, I barely have time to relax!

I arrived!

Not much to say thus far, other than I am pretty tired and yet still excited to be back in the field. Jess and I arrived on Sunday after a whirlwind finish to Spring semester. Lisa picked us up from the Belize City airport and we got back to Banana Bank just in time for a quick unpacking and dinner. 

We headed out this morning to the field, with a quick planning session at 545am. Luckily, there is no Daylight Savings here, so it was only 645 Illinois time! We had a quick breakfast at Mrs. Chocs and then headed to Yalbac with Cleofo, his son Stanley, Ernesto, his son Jose, Juan Antonio and Telio (son of Don Luna who died 3 years ago and was a long-time Lisa employee). We worked finding the walls of Structure 1 near Pool 1. We basically screened and carried debris all day, but Stanley found a wall and a plate (with the base nearly in tact), and we did locate quite a few sherds of pottery and some chert flakes. We met up with another archaeologist who works in Belize at Banana Bank and are waiting for supper to be served. 

I am looking forward to catching my breath this weekend!